What brands of clothing are teenage boys wearing nowadays? My eldest is autistic and broke down crying because he wants to look like the ‘cool kids’.

r/

My son is 13 years old and we are in the U.K. if thats relevant in any way.
Okay so, firstly I want to highlight that I absolutely explained that you have to love yourself. That clothes doesn’t change who you are and reminded him how amazing he is and doesn’t need to change for nobody. He said he understands all that but he also understands he’s ’different’ and he’s okay being different in-fact he loves how different he is. He just wants to be on brand like the other kids, he told me he wants to have pride in his appearance but he doesn’t know ‘how’ and needs help.
This is where I need your help, If I could get the brands that are ‘in’ now and I’ll search from there, I’m just clueless and kinda feel like a dinosaur as I’m in my 30’s now so I’m asking for help from you lot.
Thank you for reading, I appreciate any help I can get☺️

Comments

  1. eeemf Avatar

    Not a teen boy so I’m not sure how helpful I could be, but this post has a lot of good comments!

  2. EntertainerLevel8136 Avatar

    Oh wow so please dont think brands of clothing will make someone cool. As long as they fit his body type well and they are clean and without smell is good enough. The way I see it is name brand clothing is a stupidity tax. Even if you have the money…i think people who spend 1000 dollars on jeans have deep, deep issues.

  3. InsightTussle Avatar

    I’m a fellow dinosaur, but maybe take him to a store of the style that he wants, and have the staff can pick him an outfit/s

    edit: His outfit complaints are probably an expresssion of general difficulty with self esteem

  4. Better-Economist-432 Avatar

    activewear from JD/sportsdirect is a good shout I think irrespective of brand, maybe a decent pair of jeans from Levis etc. some of the stuff from primark/h&m is cool too

  5. Dear_CountViscula Avatar

    I don’t live in the uk but I heard Nike tech pro clothing is pretty popular there now. It used to be in the US like a decade ago but has fallen off since and gained traction there.

    Stores like h&m also offer good variety brand choices. It’s not really about the brand but mixing and matching clothes which will come off as stylish. Like a cool jacket, nice shirt, jeans/sweatpants. The type of style he’s going for is also important, does he want to look sporty, stylish, professional, etc.

    Your personal style is also an important part of fitting in, you want to be similar but not the exact copy of someone. What’s most important is that he feels comfortable in the fit, thinks it matches well altogether and isn’t embarrassed. I’d go out shopping and just try whatever you guys want so he can get a feel for what he likes and thinks he looks good in.

  6. No_Photograph_2683 Avatar

    I, also a dinosaur, know that they have these things like clothing subscription boxes, where you will get what is considered “cool” at the moment. Just for a slight upcharge…

  7. federal_boobs Avatar

    This makes me so sad and I wanna help but I have negative style so commenting for the algorithm!

  8. SuzCoffeeBean Avatar

    Try r/CasualUK

    There’s 1000 online rn – best of luck

  9. Fantastic-Moose3451 Avatar

    Help him start a pinterest board where he saves pictures with people wearing outfits he thinks look similar to what the “cool” kids are wearing. Getting visual ideas of what to shop for should help. You guys can go from there.

    I do know that “the thrift” is cool with the young folk (I’m 35 with teenaged siblings so I’m going off of what they tell me is cool). I have seen “personal thrifters” on etsy who will act as personal shoppers and who’s whole job is to find cool clothing at thrift stores. So if you’re not great at shopping, that’s an option.

  10. W8QQ Avatar

    Under Armour seems popular here (Canada).

  11. skyblueleaves Avatar

    H&M can be affordable and you can get an outfit that looks great and super trendy/fashionable looking. Look into Uniqlo also, as well .

    as if you’re looking for something to make him look harder, more athletic, Nike, Adidas, Jordan, North Face or Patagonia will elevate his gear look if you’re looking to spend a bit more for stuff that will last a bit longer.

    I used to be in his same boat cause my parents didn’t really splurge for expensive outfits but I always was able to craft a look from H&M and target basics to make a clean outfit. I collect clothes from Patagonia, Adidas, North Face, Columbia, Nike, Jordan, Alo, so I don’t have that same situation anymore lol.

    Ask him to look into some celebrity outfits that aren’t too pretentious but still trendy for younger people e.g. timothee chalamet can be an option as well as Jacob elordis outfits are pretty clean too. Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire were my main inspirations for college and high school.

    Be sure to ask him what makes him feel comfortable because I always had clothes I could still move around in with friends and still do fun stuff. I recommend him to try outdoor gear as it still feels functional while still looking great and presentable.

  12. unrealvirion Avatar

    Most of my daughter’s friends that are boys mostly wear athletic wear (tshirts, basketball shorts, tracksuits, etc) or hoodies with sweatpants, and for shoes either Chucks, Vans or Nikes.

  13. Ill_Magazine3643 Avatar

    Easy, get him a tshirt with memorable quotes from the Minecraft Movie, a fortnite-themed pant, red dinosaur sneakers

  14. Mojicana Avatar

    I’m a surfer so I’m of no help, I dress like surfers the world around.

    Pretty much 90’s grunge with a bit of Quicksilver board shorts thrown in.

  15. brinns_way Avatar

    My 13 year old wears athletic stuff like Under Armor, Adidas and Nike. Athletic pants, t-shirts, shorts and sweatshirts with sneakers are what he lives in. Never wears jeans or button down shirts.

  16. Easy_Independent_313 Avatar

    I shop at skate/ Surf shops for my boys (13 and 10) but they was my style when I was a kid and they are into that whole vibe now.

    Foe non skate/surfer items we go to jcrew, dicks sporting goods and target for gold attire which is pretty much a sartorial choice for them and me.

  17. Alliedoll42_42 Avatar

    My 17 year old likes solid colors that are super basic.

  18. Bangbashbonk Avatar

    The style of clothes could be tricky here, depending on what he’s aiming for, that’s a conversation.

    Most teens are wearing easily recognisable brands and I’m sure he could point them out as people or by brand.

    What might be tricky is that if it upends his whole current style, he could get ridiculed for changing too so taking care with that is worth keeping in mind.

    If he’s enjoying differences, hopefully you can get across the nuance of not dressing exactly like any particular person he knows

  19. thefoolthatfollowsit Avatar

    I feel for the young man.  He’s ready for a glow up.  (I just learned glow up today) Get him a haircut, and some new outfits.  I’d like to hear how this story ends.  And a new phone while you are at it.  

  20. newenglandsparky Avatar

    I’m in the US but any activewear brand like Nike, Adidas, Champion, etc is considered relatively cool. Helps that it’s soft activewear, easy to mix and match. A few nice pairs of sneakers would help too!

  21. Silly-Mountain-6702 Avatar

    our kids wear uniforms.

    Proplem. Solved.

  22. allietiger_ Avatar

    True religion jeans something baggy, or plain black/ white tees, something crisp. levi jeans, Marshalls has really good shirt options that are plain but cute, get him a nice clean cut. a nice cologne (not axe) to top things off. shoes wise it could be nikes or converse, air forces

  23. NoSolution3986 Avatar

    Taking him to a store might be too intimidating and overwhelming, especially for someone with autism. Have you suggested he go on pinterest or other social medias to give you a better idea of what he’s talking about? If you can narrow down specifically what he’s talking about (baggy or skinny jeans, what kind of shirts, what kind of shoes etc etc) before you go, it’ll save a lot of frustration when shopping.

    I’m in the US but I feel like fashion between our countries is pretty similar. A lot of stuff I’ve noticed:

    Pants: Can’t go wrong with Levis jeans. If he’s not the jeans type, Adidas and Nike joggers/pants are great too.

    Shirts: H&M makes trendy tshirts in good quality. Do you lot across the pond have Uniqlo? They’re even better in terms of fit and fabric.

    Sneakers: Nike dunks are huge right now. Can’t go wrong with converse.

    I hope this helped in any way!

  24. Purlz1st Avatar

    Do you know any of the other parents from his school? They might know what’s in style and the best place to find it.

  25. cluelessibex7392 Avatar

    Nike is always a popular brand. Any Activewear also tends to be popular, as well as graphic tees. If he really likes any bands, band tees are definitely popular and can be good for self-expression, too. I reccomend not buying gray Activewear- the “safest” colors for boys will be black and navy (bonus they hide stains better than gray).

    In USA, teen boys tend to not wear jeans all too often, but a nice pair of levis jeans and/or khakis are always good to keep around (and honestly make you feel more put together anyways). Not as certain about young teens, but a lot of the 16-20 age range is really into carhartt as well! If you live somewhere colder, the brown/black carhartt jackets are definitely very in, and look really nice with jeans. I reccomend staying away from cargo shorts or shorts that go past the knees. Not really “in” right now. Kids also like nike socks.

    For regular clothing, actual brands tend to not matter quite as much as overall appearance. It’s jackets and shoes that get the most attention. White air force ones are a great basic shoe, but any kind of nike shoe (not tennis shoe, but similar style to af1s)) are really in right now. A lot of kids will the jordans with their favorite colors.

    Maybe ask him to show you pictures of the “cool kid clothing” and make sure to get his input on clothing items before buying them. It may be difficult to describe what he wants, but it’s always easy to say you do or don’t like a picture. I know kids in the 14+ age range in USA like to express themselves a little more than they did when i was that age. Colored sweatshirts with logos and art, band merch, sports jerseys, and all kinds of different aesthetics are very popular now as long as you are happy and confident.

    Source: 15 year old brother that i have been on excruciating shopping trips with

  26. Ginoblee Avatar

    Post this to any male fashion subreddit. I’m sure people can help you there

  27. Notlennybruce Avatar

    Zumiez might be good to try

  28. Crazy-Plastic3133 Avatar

    brand names. nike and such. just dont get him a t-shirt that has loud colors or a logo directly in the middle of the shirt. that is distinctly not viewed as cool

  29. CADBALL Avatar

    I just wear carpenter pants, and a white T-Shirt.

    Also generic steel toe shoes.

  30. Profoundly_AuRIZZtic Avatar

    Adidas, Nike, North Face, Under Armor

    Athletic wear is in

  31. iamwhoiamwho Avatar

    I see a lot of teens shopping at Primark, they seem to have what is currently in style. Most boys seem to be wearing black or dark coloured joggers, hoodies and tees and baggy jeans.

  32. xyxyxy--- Avatar

    hoodies with structued hoods (not ones that sag, the hood should sit nicely on the back in a nice shape) and some brands you always see are like stussy.

  33. autohertz Avatar

    Nike and Adidas are big rn. North Face jackets are everywhere. Lots of kids wear those tech joggers/tracksuits. Vans and Converse shoes are still cool. Also check out JD Sports,
    they got all the trendy stuff teens wear.

    r/mensfashion may be help too

  34. Hollocene13 Avatar

    My teen likes long sleeve tees, various khakis only, flannels, bucket hats, all VERY oversized. Skater type or loafer shoes.

  35. Santos93 Avatar

    Im in the US. There are a lot of fashion trends but my son who is also autistic (thin long figure body type) has bad sensory problems. The only thing he can wear that is similar to kids his age (13 next month) is sportswear. He prefers under armor and adidas clothes. Some kids his age also like Nike clothes but for sensory issues it isn’t a good fit for him. He likes Nike and under armor shoes. Not adidas or other brand sneakers. The shoe laces have to be changed to the special needs stretchy type (forgot the name). Adidas and other brand sneakers aren’t the most comfortable in his size. Nike is most comfortable sneakers for his sensory needs. He likes the children’s place, adidas and crocs sandals which are also used a lot here. Which is great because I (32F) have the same sensory issues and I know what he prefers because it’s what I wear and now we’re the same size and he won’t stop taking my clothes/shoes! I thought adding some pink might stop him but now he walks out wearing my pink shoes. It’s still not normal near by for boys to wear pink but my boys don’t seem to care. They wear similar style to those their age but don’t care about color. I think one of them might be color blind like their dad so maybe that’s why he does it. The autistic one sees color well. Remember to check if colorful is normal for his age group where you’re at. Here it’s normal to have some colors paired with black or grey or all neutral colors only. I hope someone near you can help out more!

  36. Ace929 Avatar

    U should post this in the teenagers subreddit to get some opinions from young people

  37. hither_spin Avatar

    This happened to my non-autistic kid at 13, years ago. Kids that age are vipers about kids having original thoughts in their heads. They try to force them into a mold.

    I’d suggest searching and looking it up on TikTok.

  38. ChiliMac16 Avatar

    I’d ask a friendly teacher or school counselor.

  39. Ceejai Avatar

    I can’t help, but you are a great parent for going this far to make your child happy with what many would consider a ‘trivial teen issue’. A+ adulting.

  40. D-Alembert Avatar

    I think the help he’s looking for isn’t really answered by what brands are on brand, while that might be part of it, it sounds like he wants to understand how to pick clothes and how to have confidence his outfits are doing what he wants them to do (such as fitting in and not drawing attention)

    I think fashion is a mysterious unintelligible language for him right now and that is frightening.

    If so, then he could start by learning about simple ways that fashion influences clothes. Eg jeans; how high above the crotch is the belt? They can be low-rise, high cut, or something in between. Those jeans can also have baggy legs,  skinny legs, flares, boot cut, etc. Are people wearing cuffs above the ankle? Breaking over the shoe? What kind of fabric distress, decoration etc. You can see these things just by looking, but until you’re aware of the differences and options you kinda don’t quite see it

    Once he knows what to look for to analyze what other people are wearing, then he can start noticing how things get paired and start figuring out the language of clothes. 

    There are also books on how to dress, style for men, etc. which while they won’t be written for his current social group + year, they can break down the elements and give the underlying principles. Books might also be more in the comfort zone of an autistic teen wanting to learn a new thing

  41. deliriumelixr Avatar

    Hi, I have Autism and enjoy fashion. I don’t have any style advice because I’m a big fan of developing your own style but please please please please find a tailor. Sometimes cool stuff is sensory hell, or looks weird on a body vs on a rack and a good tailor makes all the difference

  42. RoidVanDam Avatar

    Being cool is over rated as fuck. He should gravitate to whatever he likes and ignore anyone who gives him shit about it. Anybody who cares more about the shirt you wear than the content of your soul is a vapid, shallow person anyway.

    Easier said than done, I know. Especially being autistic, he probably just wants to fit in because he already feels like an outsider. From my experience, twisting and contorting yourself to please others always hurts more than just being authentic.

    Also, not for nothing, but a different thing is cool every few months. It’s fucking impossible to keep up. And looking back at bygone trends, some of them are just pathetic. Show him the blunder years sub and he’ll realize that a lot of things people think are cool are actually cringe-inducing.

  43. chairmanghost Avatar

    Go to where kids are, like if there is a popular pizza shop with a line, or a street where young people drink, and causually clock what everyone is wearing. It varies by area, but stuff will jump out, everyone has wide leg pants or oversized hoodies, or pegged jeans, mulletts whatever.

    Good luck

  44. S2Sallie Avatar

    Idk about the UK but here in the US the bummier the clothes the better. Where I’m at everyone just wears sweats & crocs. I finally gave up on buying my kids cute clothes.

  45. Bubbly_North_2180 Avatar

    I’d start by asking him what sort of things the “cool kids” wear. Just thinking it may not be the popular crowd he likes the style of, it might be more a group of kids he wants to be friends with. Maybe the more alternative kids etc.

    Failing that, head to the local shopping centre and see what the teens are wearing. I feel for you cos style for guys is a lot harder than girls in my opinion 😅 usually the sporty brands like Nike are always popular.

  46. Pumpkkinnn Avatar

    I’m not sure about brands, but maybe ask if he can find you some pictures online of what he likes! For example, if he searches men’s street wear / clothes. Then you might be able to figure out some brands that make similar stuff?

    Also- you’re a great mom. 🙂

  47. LiterallyDudu Avatar

    Not sure I can help but look up pictures of “roadmen” and make sure he does NOT go around dressed like that

  48. No_Animator6543 Avatar

    My kid just wears hoodies and pajamas pants

  49. millyxoxo13 Avatar

    You’re doing an amazing job supporting your son, and it’s great that he wants to express himself through style. In the UK I’d say popular brands among 13-year-old boys right now include Nike, Adidas, H&M, Uniqlo, and Palace Skateboards—these are what the “cool kids” often wear and are easy to mix and match. Nike and Adidas are big for sporty looks, H&M and Uniqlo are great for basics and trends, and Palace adds that streetwear edge. Starting with a few pieces from these should help him feel more confident and on-trend. Hopefully this helps!

  50. DotOneFive Avatar

    I have no clue about clothes, but I know they wear socks with Crocs or slides.

  51. ohthedarside Avatar

    Teenager here

    Its 90% ridiculous tracksuits and anything branded

    Or as i prefer band shirts the more extreme the band the bettet

  52. JustPlainJaneToday Avatar

    Great support! Couple of things to consider as you get new clothes. He may find different clothing than he’s used to to be somewhat sensory triggering. This will be especially true with his anxiety is up or his excitement level. It might be a good idea for him to practice his new look over a long weekend before debuting in front of his peers he will be more comfortable in spite of any excitement he may have for it.

  53. DizzyMine4964 Avatar

    Autistic here. He never will be cool. The cool kids are a holes anyway. He needs to find other friends like himself.

  54. Ok-Equivalent8260 Avatar

    Nike, Supreme, FOG, Raspberry Hills, Kith, Carhartt, Palm Angel, Stussy, Denim Tears, vintage Levi’s, Palace

  55. EchoMountain158 Avatar

    There are websites that will deliver boxes from brands you like for a consistent price every month. Maybe ask the teachers at his school to do a “vote” on favorite clothing brands. Kids that age love doing that. If the school board posts the results for everyone, all the kids with no fashion sense but too afraid to ask can find out without getting embarrassed.

  56. middleagerioter Avatar

    Shouldn’t this be something the two of you do together? It’s kinda odd asking strangers when your kid is right there wanting the clothes he wants. Just take him to the store OR find online stores and y’all pick stuff together.

  57. cloudyhead444 Avatar

    Bershka, pull&bear, Zara, H&M, Nike, adidas, the North Face (jackets), allsaints,

  58. Rinas-the-name Avatar

    This site has current trends, you can ask him if those are cool. Then go from there.

    Zumiez

  59. Informal_Wishbone489 Avatar

    Hi!! Not a teen boy, but I am a teen girl, so here are some things I’ve seen boys my age wear!

    Shirts/tops: I’ve seen a lot of graphic t shirts(you can find at tillys, h&m, Gym shark, Hollister, Zara, thrift stores etc..) Also there’s this website called in print we trust! Where they have the coolest graphic t shirts. Wife beaters (weird name but it’s a type of shirt, you can find it anywhere) Not sure if this is mainly popular in America but there’s a huge trend of guys wearing checkered short sleeved button ups! Sweaters are also pretty in, the main thing though is the graphic design! You want something like a wave or something. And some layer shirts sometimes, like a tightish long sleeve and then a normal tshirt on top.

    Pants : Baggy jeans, baggy jorts(you can find at Hollister, Pacsun, American eagle etc), hoodies (I suggest Hollister, Stussy, and essentials for this) and huge trend of camo clothes rn. With jorts a keychain is usually attached to the belt hoops. Or they use shoe laces instead of a belt. I mainly see baggy low-ish rise pants. No high waters, I usually see heel bitters. Sweatpants are also all the rage, even better if it’s a matching top and sweatpants set.

    Shoes : Something else I’ve seen are converse shoes, adidas shoes(Sambas, Gazzelles, Campus etc). Birkenstock clogs, Jordan’s.

    Stores to shop : in print we trust, Carrharts, Dicks, Hollister, Pacsun, Zara, stussy, thrift stores, North face, Levi’s, tillys, h&m, under armor, adidas, Nike, Aeropostale, and depot has really good items in general. These are the stores I most see teenage boys in!

    Here are some key words to look up when looking for outfit inspo on Pinterest : Utah boy(kinda weird but trust) skaterboy, streetwear, and outfit inspo boy.

    Accessories : Hats are super in too, but the baseball caps! And it’s usually the LA or NYC ones I see, or the bass pro shop baseball caps. Like I said earlier using your shoe laces as a belt, attaching a keychain/carabiner to your belt loop, chains, beanies,

    I think the most important aspect of teen boy outfits are that they’re all super baggy!! Not like baggy to the point they’ll fall off, but that it has a cool silhouette! Camo is super popular right now, look up Hollister camo hoodie for reference!! That’s important, gen z camo is very different from what you might be thinking.

  60. Miss-Indie-Cisive Avatar

    The hair is the biggest thing right now: get him a perm so he looks like a broccoli. That’s very in right now.

  61. MaterialSituation325 Avatar

    My son is 14. He wears under armour, gym shark and nike mainly. He loves the soft, light materials. Sports direct and Amazon are the cheapest.

  62. Round-Salamander9226 Avatar

    I see a lot of the Spider brand (spi5der?) hoodies and air forces. I work at a high school.

  63. poolbitch1 Avatar

    I work in a middle school, but in Canada. Most are wearing baggy jeans, t-shirts, “street style” hoodies, crocs or slides (think Birkenstocks) with thick socks. Idk though, if it were me I’d take him to the mall to shop in person, just so he could get an idea both of what he likes the look of and wants to wear 

  64. birdklub Avatar

    North Face jacket

  65. -Gadaffi-Duck- Avatar

    My son is 13 on June and has autism adhd and tourettes, he wanted the cool brands too. .

    Footwear, timberland, air Jordans, Nike(air max, tn’s)

    Sportswear, Nike, Adidas, North face, armani.

    Casual wear, levi jeans, diesel tshirts, Adidas and Nike tshirts.

    If you’re on a budget hit m&m direct (always cheaper than anywhere else ans currently up to 80%off sale going on) and sports direct.

    JD are costly but do have great sales throughout the year (on store and online).

    Thankfully my boy Is normal size so it wasn’t to painful on my bank balance, which I needed after his giant of a sister who was 6′ and size 10 feet at that age.
    Alas she’s now 16 next month and still growing.

  66. mlayman13 Avatar

    My son will wear anything Nike. Shoes, shirts, sweats, socks. He finally started wearing jeans, when he was picking them out, he didn’t choose any specific jean style.

  67. itsprincess_duh Avatar

    Not only is it about what you wear but how well you take care of yourself. Good hygiene is good, maybe the “in” hairstyle and of course style 🙂 which doesn’t have to break the bank.

    Good luck! Sounds like a great kid!

    edited for clarity

  68. bishopthom Avatar

    You, are a good parent. No matter what you find out, your son has someone in his corner that is willing to ask a thousand strangers for help and that’s all that matters.

  69. clashvalley Avatar

    Nike tracksuits, 90% of clothes from sports direct, crocs, toms trunks (it was originally uni students I saw wearing these but now I’ve noticed some younger people with them + they’re becoming more popular), urban outfitters, h&m, adidas, JD sports (very popular), uniqlo, TK MAXX (good for discounts or buying early for next season)

  70. DrCox111222 Avatar

    Would r/malefashionadvice be helpful?

  71. chielbasa Avatar

    Brand names are for people who can’t think for themselves. Help him shop around trying on things that he likes. It’s trial and error. If you feel good in the clothes you are wearing then you look cool. This takes time, trying on a lot of different clothes and shopping around at new places

  72. Chance-Chain8819 Avatar

    My son is a little younger (12 1/2) and we are in NZ. But he is a ‘cool’ kid.
    Most of what makes my son cool is actually his confidence, he has an absolute disregard for peer pressure and what others think.
    He loves his fuzzy pink Hello Kitty Pyjama bottoms, and wears them to the skate park (other boys are now starting to do the same).
    His school bag is a pink nike back-pack.
    He rocks his Dickies work-wear shorts (black) with a white ‘wife beater’ top (or oversized t-shirt).

    Generally speaking, what I see from the multitude of kids hanging around my house is:
    If it fits, its too small
    Big and Baggy is the way to go.
    Basketball style shorts are popular in NZ, also Dickies shorts, and wide leg ‘jorts’

    Hoodies need to be super big – again, if it fits, its too small.

    The only exception to the ‘big is best’ rule is rugby shorts. They are allowed to be short, provided you have compression tights underneath them

    Jeans are baggy/wide leg

    T-shirts are baggy also.
    We buy alot from Shein (don’t hate this broke single mother) with random designs.

    Most of the time, confidence can stop a bully in their tracks. My boy loves it when people try to tease him about his love of pink. He will look at what ever he’s wearing (sometimes take off a t-shirt or bag) and start searching/checking it closely – then looks up with confusion on his face “I can’t see a vagina anywhere, are you sure this is a girl?” or similar.

    Suggest he takes note of what kids are wearing at school/in town and then try to find similar things in store that he likes as well.

  73. Kay0okay Avatar

    I would cross post this to r/teenagers if you haven’t already. They are the experts after all

  74. Dry_Pilot_1585 Avatar

    Nike adidas lulu?

  75. flowderp3 Avatar

    I’m in the US but I’ll echo and put in one place what some other commenters have mentioned, and you’re such a sweet parent for posting and wanting to help:

    • Probe for reference to confirm who the “cool kids” are to him—looking for whatever’s most trendy won’t work if it’s not the trendy kids he’s looking at.
    • Regardless of the style he’s wanting but especially if it IS the kids that are most popular with the trendiest clothes, avoid going straight to the most trendy, the most emblematic of the looks. Because (a) that will be obvious to his peers if it’s a significant change, especially at that age when their little burgeoning adolescent peer-obsessed social brains are in full force looking to define themselves and others and jockey for belonging; and (b) the trendiest outfits will be less versatile and will become uncool more quickly, and he could end up frustrated again relatively soon, which will also make it less sustainable long-term and financially for you.
      • Generally, any style will have more basic elements. Meaning even if there’s a certain more unique style of jean or patterned shirt or combination of items that are super popular, the genre will most likely also have a particular style or cut of t-shirt or jean or hoodie or whatever. That can also be a way to make sure your son is more comfortable with the change, if you can find something that works for him sensory-wise and maybe something that’s closer to the kind of thing he typically wears. The coolest outfit is not going to have the desired effect if he puts it on and feels extremely uncomfortable.
    • A big part of clothes and style and looking cool is HOW they’re worn. Even very small things. This is sometimes what kids pick up on when judging each others’ coolness and why something might seem to look cool on one person but not on another. What SIZE of clothes kids are wearing relative to their body size and shape makes a big difference (which of course is one of the ways that large groups of people get excluded from a lot of fashion and trends). How jeans or whatever pants they’re wearing fall on the shoe, whether they zip their jacket up all the way or just halfway, etc. That can make a surprisingly big difference. All the more reason to consider starting with the basics of whatever style, as there are fewer opportunities for “error” on those things. In fact, I don’t know what his current wardrobe is like but once you learn more about what style his cool peers are wearing, you might even be able to find ways to adjust how he wears his regular clothes to be a bit closer to whatever his cool reference is.

    None of this is to encourage him (or you) to start dissecting all these things and turn yourself into an anthropologist of teen fashion—that was my path of choice once I was a couple years older than him (ADHD-likely-AuDHD but not dx’d as anything at the time, 25 years ago) and while I was genuinely interested in it and I think just happened to have a decent eye for it, it was also exhausting and I would pay a lot to recoup some of that mental and emotional energy. But an adolescent will rarely internalize that message, understandably, and developmentally his age is a time when most kids, autistic or not, are trying to figure out their style anyway, trying on different looks. What’s most important is that he’s comfortable and maybe he’ll be able to find ways to add his own style or things he enjoys into a baseline of clothes he feels more confident in. That’ll go a long way anyway.

  76. floopyferret Avatar

    Full disclosure, we are in the US. Our 14 year old son wears a lot of athletic clothes. Nike, champions, stuff like that.

  77. Hyruliansweetheart Avatar

    Name brand shoes are always a big one with teen boys. Hope kiddos feeling better being 13 is so hard

  78. RevolutionaryMail747 Avatar

    Ok I love this guy https://www.instagram.com/francis_bourgeois43?igsh=cGFxYnYxOXRtNnM0 and he has his style. Worth having a look at just to see the different choices he makes. I wonder if your son can share some pictures of his clothing goals with you, people he admires and there are many young people with autism he may find interesting or he may have very different ideas and identify with completely different young people. I have found that a balance between what looks right and what feels ok to wear from a sensation perspective is ideal.

  79. Rellcotts Avatar

    American mum here. My 16 year old wears a lot of baggy hoodies and athletic pants. I see the kids actually sporting some blue jeans occasionally that’s probably considered dressy for them. Some good trainers.

  80. alright_frog Avatar

    look into streetwear/casual activewear!!

  81. Glum_Goal786 Avatar

    You should take a look at Depop and see what is popular/recommended. I also find that Depop can grab you GREAT bargains sometimes too

  82. MrBumpDemon Avatar

    Costume designer, fashion enthusiast, and people observer here. I’ve noticed a lot of boys from like 13-21 have a more immature but “cool” looking style. Vintage style clothes, especially boxy fit tee shirts and baggy jeans, seem to be very in style. Old, beat up looking sneakers. Things that look retro. My mind goes to old school style pumas, new balances, nike, etc.
    Another popular style is the athleticy cool style, sweatpants and sneakers and sports brand tee shirts. Laid back “athleisure” but if you told a teen boy he was wearing athleisure he might be embarassed lol.
    I would recommend checking out Pinterest, maybe even letting him make a board of shit he likes. I do this all the time for my own style and it’s so helpful! I usually use that for inspiration when I hit the thrifts/vintage/consignments.
    Best of luck. I know how it feels to want to fit in and look cool. It took me 20 years to feel “normal” and feel like I felt in, 20 years to find my style, but it was worth it in the end. I hope his confidence soars! 🙏

  83. Material_Weird_3731 Avatar

    I’m the same age and in the UK. Most ‘popular’ boys I know wear activewear like nike tracksuits and stuff like that (JD and other sporty shops sell these sorts of clothes). But if he’d prefer a style more like jeans and a t-shirt, h&m and primark have good options.

  84. aschkev Avatar

    Take him to the park or the mall or somewhere kids his own age hang out and have him show you the style of clothes that he is talking about.

  85. Beautiful-Paper2029 Avatar

    Check I with his teachers – hoping they can give you an idea of what they are seeing in their class rooms to help you pick out some items.

  86. LostInTheSauce22 Avatar

    Somehow, get to the school to observe the kids and what they’re wearing. For instance, Pick him up from school if you don’t already. also, walk the mall and look at what the stores have on the window mannequins – then replicate!

    I also have used Instagram hashtags to search for what my son was trying to explain to me.

    Lastly, what helped my boy a ton was finally finding a barber that could give him the exact haircut he’s wanted. It gave him SO much confidence.
    ETA: check Hollister

  87. RadioWolfSG Avatar

    Branded clothes with athletic brands such as Nike and adidas are very popular

  88. lysy9987 Avatar

    Probably Nike Tech Wear, don’t forget about gloves and balaclava.

  89. TammyLLC Avatar

    ASOS.com is pretty trendy.

  90. geminicow Avatar

    based in the uk, obligatory i’m not a boy nor a teen (but have a boyfriend aged 21), uniqlo airism shirts are really popular right now! they’re basic, comfy tees that come in a lot of colours

  91. deadmuthafuckinpan Avatar

    You’re a good parent. 

  92. healthy_cynicism_3 Avatar

    What I do, and it may sound creepy but it doesn’t have to be; I go to their school events. Sports games, band presentations, drama clubs. Or the mall. (My town has a popular mall), concerts. Just people watch. Its always easy to spot the cool kids. The I google the clothes shoes. It seems to work for me

  93. spdave Avatar

    You’re always cool in a pair od button fly 501’s.

  94. joeykipp Avatar

    I can’t be 100% accurate cause I’m in Australia and a bit older, but go to a mall next time you need to shop, just take note of what boys around your son’s age are wearing. I’m not saying exact pieces, but if every get had Jordans on with Nike trackies and a north face hoodie, try that!

  95. Grace_Alcock Avatar

    I’m in the US so this might not help, but you can never go wrong with a Nike hoodie.  I mean, the teens around here are hard pressed to take them off when it’s 40 degrees outside in July.  

  96. Gold_Jellyfish_49 Avatar

    I just want to say that you’re such a cool parent, and your son is lucky to have you.

  97. moosmutzel81 Avatar

    I am in Germany as a secondary school teacher and have a 14 year old.

    Baggy jeans and white or black oversized shirts or hoodies. No color. I some days have 28 kids in black sitting in front of me.

    My own kid likes Bershka right now, so do his friends.

  98. Andriel_Aisling Avatar

    Location is -always- relevant with fashion.
    I can drive an hour away and the clothes I wear are considered weird, while where I live I am complimented and my clothing taste is appreciated.

    Ask your son what the cool kids are wearing.
    See if he can give you some ideas via internet pictures and include names for the brands he is interested in.

  99. Rude_Girl69 Avatar

    It’s not always about the brand but how you style the clothes.

  100. Internal-Command433 Avatar

    I am on the spectrum and have worn a variation of the same thing since I was 14. It’s simple, repeatable, and I never have to worry about matching. Plus I’ve been told I dress well.

    Levi’s 511 jeans, white low top sneakers, solid color T-shirts, crew or V-neck and loose fitting / thin beanie. Layer with pullover hoodie and tweed parka on cold days.

  101. Jellyfish0107 Avatar

    I wish someone specific to the UK would answer you with relevant brands and stores. Fashion is very regional, in some cases, I think. What’s popular to teens in a specific region of the US might not be the same as where you are from in the UK. I’m a dinosaur too… I expect my nephews to give me very specific brands or styles otherwise I have zero clue where to start shopping.

  102. UnderstandingKey8239 Avatar

    Anything baggy/loose fitting? 

    I usually go to op shops and staples like loose fitting jeans, baggy t shirts etc seem to be fairly easy to come by.

    Good luck!! 

  103. Shoddster Avatar

    If this was Midwest America I’d be able to help out but idk anything abt UK youth fashion

  104. No_Extreme7974 Avatar

    Get him some dita designer sunglasses and a nice turtle neck.

  105. Same-Department8080 Avatar

    In addition to above comments- pick him up from school and take note what other kids are wearing, or ask him to point outfits out he likes that others wear. Show him diff brands and clothing options on your phone and ask him which ones he likes. If it’s getting expensive, find second hand online options (in the US- eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace) have saved us a ton of money.

  106. Rocky_Vigoda Avatar

    Call him a poser and tell him to stop being such a conformist. /s

  107. angelinashara Avatar

    Southpole, polar, ecko unltd, hysteric glamour, ed hardy, true religion, salomon, alyx, srrysora, prada, chrome hearts, stussy, etc. some of it is expensive but having some of those pieces to combine will go a long way. Look on grailed and depop for used pieces or for “y2k” clothing. As someone said before, let him make a pinterest board!

  108. Gruppstar3 Avatar

    I’m in the US but here anything 90s is back. Think jnco jeans and shirts with one/two straps across the chest. Supreme hoodies, Nike air force ones, Van’s, baggy levi jeans. Layers looks are also very trendy, white long sleeve with a tshirt over, think 90s grunge look for that. Cool band t-shirts from the thrift store

  109. Puzzleheaded_Toe_956 Avatar

    My brother is athletic and wears a solid color shift with a logo usually a sports company with back shirts. Sometimes long sleeve and sweatpants for colder days. It works for him. Layering is good too. A white undershirt and a light button up can be cool with pants

  110. StardustDrifter33 Avatar

    My 13-year old son just asked for “skater” jeans. The kids are liking fashion that was popular in the late 90s. He also just went to Goodwill with a bunch of friends and came home pretty happy with an over-sized polo. He wears sweatshirts all the time as well.

  111. Nedonomicon Avatar

    My lad and his mates seem to be very much into ‘vintage’ baggy jeans and t Shirts, I can’t speak for the ‘cool’ kids at his school

    And by vintage I mean 90’s style

  112. pineapplessinmyhead Avatar

    a lot of college students shop at American Eagle, PacSun, Abercrombie, Hollister etc.

  113. alwayslurkin4201 Avatar

    I went through something similar although I’m in the US and in my mid-20s now. Was only in high-school a few years ago still (5-6 years) however I am from the US and I know the UK probably has different brand specifics for some local wear or sports wear.
    Good place I started was wearing some quality jeans, from Champs. Kholes or the Levi brand always were a favorite!Kahki jeans and black jeans with a common brand shoe that are mostly worn these days like Nike, Adidas, Air Jordan and a few more. If you guys have malls by you they may have a Champs those stores are a great place for these clothes l, lots of street wear mixed with sports wear! Definitely get the kid a cool Hoodia or two and a nice jacket if he needs it as those can make an outfit!
    For shoes Jordan Retro 1s, Vans and Nike Air are getting decent sales/pricing these days making the look more common but a clean, popular outfit atkeast by me.
    I’d definitely have him pick a pair that he loves as shoes can make the man 🙂
    T Shirts are an easy one as the more he gets comfortable the more he’s gonna get his own taste and color coordination but good start is sports brands or cool graphic T’s!

    Pleass tell him to try and cheer up!!! You seem like a great parent <3

  114. Optimal_Raspberry486 Avatar

    sounds like ur an awful parent

  115. B99fanboy Avatar

    I feel cringe when I think about my teenage days trying to look cool. 😂

  116. im_the_joker Avatar

    Looking cool is subjective, like what is cool. When I was 13 I thought that the goths and stuff aimed at rock music baggy jeans with chains was cool but then you’d have the popular kids wearing Nike trainers and tracksuits and the kids who had to have the best or expensive brands like timberland and such. Kids who used to wear t shirts with logos and writing on them was big but when I wore them I always felt cringe and preferred plain clothes.
    Being cool is more about how you present yourself and confidence, how you walk, talk and having a style that fits you body type and being clean.
    Following trends to fit in is not cool and if done wrong just looks desperate and more likely to get ridaculed for it.
    All the young kids round my area all look the same black tracks bottoms, trainers and those awful Michelin man jackets with there hoods up.
    All that being said it’s still the same as it’s always been which is the most expensive stuff.
    Try north face, balenciaga, under amour, Nike airs, dc Martians, Levi’s jeans.
    Just look at the kids he’s trying to replicate and go from there.